By Miracle Ogunde
The Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the last Presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to uphold and defend the ground rules of elective government in the country.
Speaking at a press conference organized today in Abuja, the former Vice President says political leadership and active citizenship matter in building a reputable country.
In his words, “Political leadership and active citizenship matter because they are ways through which we all work together to build a country that works for all who live in it.
“Our country is bigger than any of us, and its standing in the world affects the fate of all who come from or live in it. As leaders, it is our duty to advance the well-being of all our people and of the country,” he said.
Atiku reminisces on the roles he played in restoring democracy to Nigeria, saying “my generation worked hard to return the soldiers to the barracks and to defend the right of the people to elect and establish for ourselves a legitimate government.
“Our elections are established and governed by law and founded on the constitution from which leadership and government in Nigeria alone derive their legitimacy,” Atiku said.
Atiku says Nigerians look up to their leaders to respect the constitution and defend the rule of law, noting that certain requirements are prescribed by the constitution for anyone aspiring for any political office in the country.
“The people look up to us as leaders to respect these rules and, where necessary, to defend them.
“The constitution prescribes the requirements for those who seek the highest elective office in the land.
“It should not take months or, indeed, decades, for the institutions concerned to be able to do their work in establishing the credibility of any certificates presented by candidates for public office.
The Waziri Adamawa noted that “the ground rules for legitimate governance in our country need to be upheld, and the reputation of our country is at stake. That affects everyone, Nigerians everywhere.”
Speaking on the controversy concerning the certificate of President Bola Tinubu, the former Vice President emphasized that “The issues at stake in this case require us once more to re-dedicate ourselves to both the country and our constitution.
While appreciating his legal team for bringing clarity to the certificate issue, Atiku also appreciated Nigerians for their patience in seeking clarity on the matter.
“I should thank the lawyers both in Nigeria and in the United States, who have assisted us in bringing clarity and definitive answers to these issues that appear to have defied our institutions for nearly a quarter of a century. I also want to extend my gratitude to Nigerian citizens and friends of Nigeria both within and beyond the shores of our country for their patience as we have sought to find the facts and establish the truth.”
He, however, urged his fellow contestants in the last Presidential election, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to join in the call for enthronement of truth, morality, and accountability in public affairs.
“In line with this, therefore, I am calling on all well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought, our religious leaders, our traditional leaders, our community leaders, our political leaders, and in particular, Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP and, the leaders of every political party in Nigeria, and, indeed, every single person who loves this country, as I do, and who wishes nothing but the best for the country, as I do, to join me in this campaign to enshrine probity, accountability and the basic principles of justice, morality and uprightness in our country and in our government.
“This is a task for each and every one of us,” he concluded.
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